Meet Ashley Eckstein—hometown hero at Orlando Science Center

Meet Ashley Eckstein—hometown hero, voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars®: The Clone Wars™ and founder of the popular female sci-fi merchandise line, Her Universe™—at Orlando Science Center on Saturday, March 23 as part of the final days of the blockbuster exhibit Star Wars®: Where Science Meets Imagination.

Eckstein will participate in question-and-answer panels, autograph sessions and photo ops throughout the day. These activities are included with admission.

American film and television actress Ashley Eckstein was born in Louisville, Ky. and moved to Orlando, Fla. shortly thereafter. Ashley is an alumna of Orlando Repertory Theater and a former Walt Disney World cast member, having worked there as a dancer/cheerleader in the “Hercules’ Zero to Hero Victory Parade.”

She is currently the voice of Ahsoka Tano, the lead female protagonist in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In 2010, Ashley launched Her Universe, a company that produces licensed merchandise targeted specifically for girls and women who are fans of science fiction.

This May, Ashley will return as a celebrity co-host for Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World for the fifth year in a row. In 2005, she married former Major League Baseball player and 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein in his hometown of Sanford, Fla. which was followed by a reception at Walt Disney World.
Developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. and presented by Bose Corporation®, the 10,000 square-foot exhibit explores the fantasy technologies depicted in the Star Wars films, as well as the real science behind them, and the current research that may someday lead to real-life versions of the technologies seen in the film series.

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination is the first exhibition to display costumes and props from all six Star Wars films with real-world technologies. The exhibit includes extensive video interviews with filmmakers, scientists and engineers, and hands-on components, including two large Engineering Design Labs, where visitors can build and test their own speeders and robots. The exhibit’s last day is Sunday, April 7.
Admission to Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination is $27 for adults and $20 for youth (ages 3-11). Tickets include access to Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination as well as question-and-answer panels, autograph sessions and photograph opportunities with Ashley Eckstein. Guests can also experience all four floors of exhibits, unlimited educational films, one Hollywood feature film and live presentations. Science Center members see Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination for $12 for adults and $9 for youth.

Ashley will participate in question-and-answer panels at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. followed immediately by meet-and-greet sessions which include autographs and photo ops. She will engage in another meet-and-greet session at 3 p.m.

In addition, guests can interact with members from the Makaze Squad of the 501st Legion, Florida Garrison from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. The 501st Legion is an international fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of screen-accurate replica costumes of villains and other nefarious characters from the Star Wars universe. The group boasts more than 5,500 active members in 47 countries as of January 1, 2012. The Florida Garrison contains the most members of any Garrison in the United States.